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Architectural Highlights
Newport, Rhode Island has a nationally significant architectural heritage. As one of the most historically intact cities in North America, Newport possesses one of the largest surviving wooden cities from the colonial period. Hunter House (circe 1748) is one of the great houses of the Georgian period, when Newport was a  leading commercial seaport and a center for the arts and crafts. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Newport's role as a fashionable seaside resort made the town a veritable laboratory of architecture as the nation's leading architects designed houses in every major style for members of the summer colony. Kingscote (1839-1841), the first summer cottage on Bellevue Avenue, initiated the "cottage boom" which lasted until the 1930's. The Gothic Revival style Kingscote exemplifies the picturesque cottages that dominated American domestic architecture in the mid-1880's. The commission to design Kingscote made the reputation of its architect, Richard Upjohn who subsequently received the commission to remodel Trinity Church on Wall Street in New York City. In 1857, Upjohn became the first President of the newly formed American Institute of Architects. The firm of McKim, Mead & White, one of the most prolific in American history, designed the Isaac Bell House (1881-1883) a masterpiece of the Shingle Style. Architect Richard Morris Hunt, the first American to receive formal training at the Ecole des Beaux Arts (School of Fine Arts) in Paris, built numerous houses in Newport, among them Marble House (1888 - 1892) and The Breakers (1893 - 1895). Newport's outstanding architectural legacy was threatened by demolition and neglect in the latter part of the 20th century. The preservation movement on the part of the Preservation Society of Newport County and other organizations. and private citizens worked to save the city. Preservation has been a success story in Newport. Many important buildings were saved; some important buildings were sadly lost. The mission of the Preservation Society is to preserve Newport's architectural heritage and educate the public on a city that is one of the cultural treasures of a nation. This architectural highlights section offers a look at the important sites maintained by the Preservation Society as well as preserved images of Newport's lost buildings.
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Its All in the Details
One of the greatest pleasures of working with Newport’s buildings is to see Newporters and visitors alike who return each year to see our houses and find what is special to them. There are so many architectural details to see in the houses that it takes many visits to truly see everything. However, certain details capture the spirit of each place and its architectural style. Here is a selection of details that capture the spirit of each house...During our 60th anniversary, do come back and see if you agree, or find your own favorite details.
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Hunter House
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Chepstow
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Rosecliff
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Effect: Adapted from classical Roman arch forms, the pediment focuses attention on the front door, the focal point of a balanced, symmetrical Georgian house of the mid-18th century.
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Effect: The triple arched window, an adaptation of the Palladian windows of the Italian Renaissance, was a dominant motif of Italianate buildings of the mid-19th century. The triple arched window of Chepstow forms the second story of a central entrance tower, another common feature of Italianate houses of the Victorian era.
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Effect: The classical arch with garlands of flowers and musical instruments captures the spirit of the place. A house inspired by the theme of garden entertainments, Rosecliff was modeled after the ultimate garden pavilion, the Grand Trianon, where the Kings and Queens of France cultivated rare flowers and staged elaborate parties.
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Chateau sur Mer
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Isaac Bell House
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The Breakers
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Effect: An abstract version of an ancient Egyptian columned temple with sharply incised fluted columns and round sun discs in smooth finished granite. These architectural elements reflect the Victorian fascination with ancient and exotic cultures.
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Effect: A signature ornament of McKim, Mead and White’s Shingle Style landmark of 1883, the bracket is modeled after Italian Renaissance dolphins, reflecting the diverse sources of ornament that appear in the building.
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Effect: The loggia, or open porch, with a view of countryside or water, is the essential element of Italian Renaissance palazzos that inspired The Breakers. The loggia links the Great Hall of The Breakers, the very center of the house, with the terrace and views of sea and sky beyond.
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The Elms
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Marble House
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Effect: Encourages the viewer from the main house to walk across the grounds to see this classical 18th century French style pavilion. The pavilion is a visual focal point of the garden, serving as an ornament in its own right and offering the visitor views of the main house, grand allee and the partly concealed sunken garden.
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Effect: A monumental entrance to what Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt referred to as her “temple to the arts.” Architect Richard Morris Hunt modeled the columns after originals on the east facade of the Louvre, an architectural icon of the Louis XIV period.
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Kingscote
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Green Animals
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Effect: Medieval-style crenellation on top adds to the picturesque aspect of the facade of a Gothic Revival style villa of the 1840s. |
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Effect: Focal point of the formal garden and a signature piece of topiary that caused Miss Brayton to name her estate Green Animals. | |
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